Get Up and Go in the New Year!

I was up-beat, focused during Lockdown last year. Every day I went out walking – three, four, five, six, seven mile walks: day after day without fail. Now? Not so much. Wind. Rain. Damp. Mud, above all, mud.

Then I had an idea. Our lives have become virtual. Virtual hugs with family and friends, virtual committee meetings, virtual book groups. Though I have no desire to have a real one, I would get myself a Virtual Dog, who would need actual walks every day, come rain, come shine.

My friend Barbara won’t know this till she reads about it here, but I’ve chosen her dog, Dilys. Dilys is always up for a long walk, an explore, a refreshing swim. She’s the best trained dog I know, and is always, like Barbara, an uplifting companion.

Dilys paddles upstream in the River Ure.

And if Dilys is unavailable, I’ll borrow the dog-next-door, Poppy.

Poppy being upstaged by a newly-resident snowman.

Square Up

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and living in North Yorkshire, where I walk as often as I can, write, volunteer, and travel as often as I can.

53 thoughts on “Get Up and Go in the New Year!”

  4. Oh, isn’t Dilys gorgeous? I’m not even a doggy person but I could take her home! Well, for a walk anyway 🙂 🙂 Wishing you a year of more laughter than tears. You WILL get to Barcelona!

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    1. Thanks for your optimism Jo. And you WILL get to see family soon too. I’m not remotely doggy, but I make an exception for both Dilys and Poppy. They’re both beautifully brought up dogs, and great companions.

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  8. I hope you will get some wonderful walks with your virtual dog! During the first lockdown, I also walked every day, sometimes just in the streets, other times in the parks. Since then it has been a bit on and off. Perhaps, I should get a virtual dog as well. 😉

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  9. Dilys is wonderful! I keep saying to the OH we need to get a dog, everyone in Cornwall has a dog and it would enforce us to walk each day. Like you we were very good in the first lockdown, but we have become increasingly housebound in these wetter months. But a virtual dog sounds even better – no pooper scooper required!

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  10. YOU ARE THE BEST…. There is not going a day past with not somebody asking me: WHEN are you now going to have a dog? And yet, so far I’ve been unable to find anybody nearby who would take my buddy when I’m away …. which, naturally, means No Dog For Me….. SAD but I wouldn’t want to be having my pet w/o proper replacement parents when away….
    Now I also want YOUR virtual dogs!!!!!

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  13. Excellent idea, and one I should probably adopt. The main barrier to dog parenting for me is a total reluctance to walk the streets carrying a plastic bag full of dog pooh. And as the alternative is disgustingly worse, virtual dog-walking seems utterly genius.

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  14. I wish I could take a walk….even a couple of blocks would be nice. Covid has worn me out to much. I really like Poppy and the snowman photo. Maybe when I get a little stronger, I’ll start walking with you. I could take Maddie or Digi 😀

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  15. I thought you would like Poppy and the snowman. Yes,we can do a virtual walk any time you fancy. It’ll be quite a party with all those dogs 😉

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      1. We have 3 cats and 2 dogs, and I like both plus of course other animals.
        Our big dog, Rory, had to have spinal surgery two weeks ago to relieve pressure on spinal cord from two displaced lower lumbar vertebral discs. Happily it all went well and he is recovering – should be pretty well recovered after 4 weeks as the bones heal. Rather drastic but the vets were optimistic and we could not face euthanasia – so much death as it is. Without the surgery he would have been in awful pain and become paralyzed. So far the news is good and he is making good progress.

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      2. That sounds awful. So glad things are looking better for him. Perhaps I’ve not been paying attention, but I hadn’t realised you had dogs too. No wonder you’re kept busy

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      5. I so agree – I also resent being bounced on by other people’s dogs! Rory continues to do well. He is fully recovered from a slight set back he had the other day. He seems to appreciate all the pain management drugs he is on! and we are extending his dignified walking sessions.

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      7. At this stage Rory is limited to 10-minute walks around the garden, with several rests on the way. We are increasing the number of such walks he takes throughout the day as he gets his strength and stamina back while the bones heal. Lots of rainy days means we often have to pick a spot between showers, and of course we try to avoid the storms with very heavy rain.

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  23. Oh peachy idea, I think all of us in dogless households need a Virtual Dog today. 😐 I had asked Santa for a Bedlington Whippet, but my letter went missing in the post.

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